By IANS
New Delhi : India and Japan Wednesday decided to push their bilateral collaboration in every area of energy security, especially on clean technologies, and work together in ensuring stable and affordable fuel supplies.
Following talks here between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, the two sides also decided to step up their dialogue in the areas of environment protection, climate change and global warming.
“The two leaders shared the view that cooperation between India and Japan in the area of energy at both government and industry levels will be beneficial to promote both countries’ efforts for enhancement of energy security,” a joint statement said.
“They also noted with satisfaction the steps being taken by both countries to develop specific projects in the energy sector, including cooperation in energy efficiency and conservation and in clean energy,” the statement added.
Prime Minister Singh expressed his willingness to build India’s strategic petroleum storage system in cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA). Prime Minister Abe affirmed his willingness to support this initiative.
“The two leaders also confirmed the importance of usage of clean technology as part of a global response. Prime Minister Abe acknowledged the importance of accessibility for clean technology in cost effective manner to developing countries.”
During the interaction, Abe explained the “three proposals and three principles” that constitute the main pillars of his proposal on “Cool Earth 50” presented in May 2007 to address climate change, which was welcomed by Singh.
The Indian side also reiterated its stand that any measure in the area that seeks to set a time frame for achieving the targets must be pushed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This should be preceded by scientific consensus on impacts at different levels of green house emissions going beyond the current findings of UN bodies, which still document many uncertainties, Manmohan Singh added.
In the area of environment, the two leaders felt the need for effective system, laws and regulations to promote its protection and decided to work together both at the bilateral and multilateral level.